AN EQUIVALENT TRUSS MODEL FOR NONLINEAR STATIC ANALYSIS OF URM BUILDINGS

According to the importance of seismic evaluation of existing unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings, researchers are mostly interested in numerical modelling of these types of structures and their components. On the other hand in seismic evaluation and retrofitting codes which are mostly based on Performance Based Seismic Design (PBSD), different analysis methods such as linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic analyses are recommended. Therefore, simple equivalent frame models with lower computational cost are very useful for modelling and analysis of unreinforced masonry buildings. In this article at first, a simple equivalent truss model is proposed for modelling of an unreinforced masonry wall with sliding shear failure as the dominant in-plane failure mode. Then, the proposed model is applied for push over analysis of an unreinforced masonry wall consists of some piers and the push over curve of the wall is determined and discussed.